Electric welding torch



1941- c. l. BARCL'IFT- ELECTRIC WELDING TORCH Filed April 9, 1940 yk ll Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE morale wammc 'roaon Clarence Ivens Barclift, Daytona Beach, Fla. Application April 9, 1940, Serlal- No. szsass a Claims. (01. 219-8) This invention relates to an electric welding apparatus and particularly to a manually controlled arc welding torch which is simple in construction and in which the parts are so positioned and arranged as to permit easy manipulation of the torch and afford protection against breaking or injury of the parts during use. a

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and in which: Figure 1 is a side view or elevation of my torch; Figure 2 is a top or plan View of the same; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively transverse sections on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my torch comprises a handle l0 preferably made of wood or other suitable insulating material, and being of sufficient size to afford a flrm grip for the hand of the operator. Two bars or conductors H and i2 preferably of tubular shape extend longitudinally in the handle Ill, and at their outer ends they support the usualcarbon electrodes HE and 12E. The bars H and [2 are arranged substantially parallel and are mounted respectively in holes or openings. A and HA formed in the handle. The bar II is rigidly secured in the handle in any suitable manner as by screws B, l K). An electrical terminal indicated at l3 extends into and is detachably secured to the bar II by the screw 0. The bar II is thus mechanically and electrically connected to the terminal l3.

, The bar I2 is movably or slidably mounted in the opening I2A of the handle and, as shown particularly in Figure 3, this opening is enlarged or counterbored throughout a portion of its length as indicated at I23 and a coiled spring I surrounding the bar "is mounted in said en'- larged area I2B of the opening. An electrical terminal I5 is connected to the bar l2, said terminal being provided on its end with an enlarged nipple l6 having a threaded end "A which may be screwed into a threaded: socket in the end of the bar l2. In this manner a firm electrical and mechanical connection is made between the bar I2 and terminal Hi. The spring I bears at one end against a shoulder I20 formed by the enlarged portion I2B of the opening and at its connected parts toward the'right as seen in the drawing.

For manipulating the slidable ,bar l2 a bellcrank lever 20 is pivotally mounted on a plate 2| secured to the handle ill, the lever having at 2 one end a thumb piece 20A arranged in conother end against the nipple l6 of the terminal IS. The spring I4 is normally under compresvenient position for engagement by the thumb of the operator and having its other end 203 pivotally connected to a threaded push rod 22 which extends through an arm 23 projecting from the slidable bar I 2. A lug or projection 20C formed on the lever 20 is adapted to engage the end of the handle ID to thereby limit movement of the lever 20 about its pivot. A block of insulating material 2 is firmly mounted in the opening in the arm 23 and the rod 22 passes through this block. An adjusting nut 25 is threaded onto the rod 22' and this nut is adapted to contact with the block 24 and thus form an adjustable stop to limit inward movement of the slidable bar 12 undenthe action of the spring II; The block 24 is yieldably held against the nut 25 by the spring" l4, and the nut thus aiiords meansv by which the movable electrode I2E can be givena permanent adjustment or setting relative to 'the other electrode.

'From the foregoing, it will be seen that by moving the thumb piece 20A upwardly the movable electrode I2E may be brought into contact with the electrode E to strike the arc. Then by permitting the thumb piece to move downwardly, the electrode I2E will be moved away from the other electrode under the action of the spring H. The arrangement is such as to afford smooth and easy operation of the lever 20 so that the electrodes can be readily moved and held in position to produce the character of flame desired.

To assist in holding the conducting bars! I and I2 properly spaced and in alignment with the ,openingsin the handle ill, a block 26 of suitable insulating material is mounted on said bars, being slidable on the bar II and rigidly secured to the bar l2 by a set screw 28A.

To support the electrodes and permit the same to be adjusted as they gradually burn away, each of the conducting bars II and I2 is provided at its outer end with a rigid holder 21 having a transverse channel or groove, preferably U- shaped, for receiving a carbon electrode, the holders 21 being arranged at such an angle as to give the electrodesthe proper angular relation to each other. A movable clamp 28 is pivotally mounted adjacent the outer end of each of the bars II and I2, and the inner ends of such clamps are yieldably pressed toward the holdersjlby small springs 20, so that the electrodes are yieldably held in position. Blight pressure on theinnerendsofthese clampswllldepressthe springs 21 and free the electrodes for longitudinal adjustment. The outer holder 2'! and electrode E are preferably arranged at right angles to the bar II which permits the operator to bar for moving the same outwardly against the and forming means by which said lever may be said iirst bar, means on the outer end of each of said bars for irupporting an electrode, a coiled spring mounted in said handle and arranged to move said slidable bar inwardly of the handle, means for movingsaid slidable bar outwardly of the handle to move the electrodes toward each other, said means comprising a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on said handle. and having one end thereof operatively connected to said slidable bar, the other end of said lever being located adiacent one side of said handle and in convenient position for manipulation by the hand of an operator grasping said handle.

2. In an electric welding torch, in combina tion, a handle having two substantially parallel passages extending longitudinally therethrough, a conducting bar secured in one of said passages and extending outwardly beyond one end of the handle, a second conducting bar slidably mounted in the other passage, a coiled spring mounted in said last named passage and surrounding said slidable bar and arranged to force said bar inwardly of the handle, means on the outer end of each of said bars for supporting an electrode, means for moving said slidable bar outwardly to bring said electrodes into operative position, said last named means comprising a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on said hani die, and having one end thereof operatively connected to said slidable bar, the outer end of said lever being located adjacent one side of said handle and in convenient position for manipulation by the hand of an operator grasping said handle.

' 3. In an electric welding torch, in combination, a handle, a conducting bar rigidly secured in said handle and extending beyond one end thereof, a second conducting bar slidably mounted in said handle and also extending beyond the end thereof, means on the outer end of each bar for supporting an electrode, a coiled spring mounted in said handle and surrounding said slidable bar and arranged to'force said last named bar inwardly of the handle, a bell-crank lever mounted on said handle and having one end thereof operatively connected to said slidable manipulated by the hand of an operator grasping said handle.-

4. In an electric welding torch, in combination, a handle, a conducting bar rigidly secured in said handle and extending beyond one end thereof, a second conducting bar slidably mounted in said handle and also extending beyond the end thereof in parallel relation to said first named bar, means on the outer end of each of said barsfor supporting an electrode, a coiled spring mounted in said handle and surrounding said slidable bar and arranged to force the same inwardly of the handle, a bell-crank lever mounted on said handle, a thrust rod operatively connectedto one end of said lever and to said slidable bar for moving the latter outwardly against the action ofvsaid spring, the other end of said lever beingvp'ositioned adiacent one side of said handle and forming means by which said lever may be manipulated by the hand of an operator grasping said handle.

,-5. In an electric welding torch, in combination, a handle, a conducting bar. secured therein and extending beyond one end thereof, a secondconducting bar slidably mounted in said handle also extending beyond said end of the handle in parallel relation to said first named bar, said movable bar having an arm projecting laterally therefrom, means on the outer end of each of said bars for supporting an electrode, a coiled spring mounted in said handle and surrounding said slidable bar and arranged to move the same inwardly of the handle, a bell-prank lever pivotally mounted on said handle, a threaded thrust rod connected to one end of said lever and extending through said arm, an adjustable nut threaded on said rod for engaging said arm, whereby the position of said slidable bar and its electrode may be adjusted, the other end of said bell-crank lever being positioned ad- Jacent one side of said handle and forming means by which said lever may be manipulated by the hand of an operator grasping said handle.

6. In an electric welding torch, in combination, a handlehaving two substantially parallel passages extending longitudinally therethrough, a conducting bar secured in one of said passages and extending outwardly beyond one end of the handle, a second conducting bar slidably mounted in the other passage, a coiled spring mounted in said last named passage and surrounding said slidable bar and arranged to force said bar inwardly of the handle, means-on the outer end of each of said bars for supporting an electrode, and manually operable means mounted on said handle for moving said slidable bar outwardly relative to the other bar.

CLARENCE IVENS BARCLIFI. 

